Thanksgiving weekend events & activities including free, fun family & kids’ activities, live music, theatre & performing arts, sports, and exhibitions.
Thanksgiving Weekend in Kitchener-Waterloo Region: Friday, October 10 – Monday, October 13, 2025
I. Family & Kids Activities this weekend
Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest Thanksgiving Day Parade
The annual Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest Thanksgiving Day Parade will be even bigger for 2025 with even more new floats, inflatables & bands! Details
Monday, October 13, 2025 | 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM
The parade travels up Weber Street and finishes at the Bridgeport Road at the corner of Weber and Bridgeport around Noon.
Free; Parade Bleacher Tickets: $10/person
KIDtoberfest
Perfect for families with kids aged 3-10 (or a kid at heart!), KIDtoberfest features traditional music and dancing, Bavarian activities and performances by family favourites!! Details
October 10 – 12, 2025
Kitchener City Hall Rotunda, 200 King St W, Kitchener
Enter through the Willkommen Platz Biergarten (family-friendly!) or through the Young Street entrance.
Free
Woolly Bear October
They’re everywhere! Woolly bear caterpillars become more visible in late fall and this beloved creature is the focus in October. Come see our woolly bears up close! We will reveal the truth about the woolly bear’s stripes and you’ll discover how they survive through the winter. Details
Daily, October 2025 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Mondays | Closed
Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory, 2500 Kossuth Road, Cambridge
Regular Admission applies
Erin Fair
The Erin Fair has Drone show, 9-11 Homecraft Displays, Ag Awareness Display, Livestock & Horse Shows, Truck, Tractor & Horse Pulls, Live Entertainment, Concessions, Demo Derby, Festival Gardens, Kid’s Pedal Pulls, 4H Achievement Days. Details
October 10 to 13, 2025
Erin Agricultural Society, 190 Main St, Erin
$7 to $18
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Fall Farm Fun
Get ready to have some FALL farm fun! Includes access for 3-5 hours to our play area, pirate ships, petting zoo, pedal carts, jumping pillows, corn maze, haunted houses and HAYRIDE!! Details
Select dates, until October 31, 2025 | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Snyder’s Family Farm, 936685 Blenheim Rd RR 4, Ayr
$16.99 to $23.99
Visit Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory
Experience 1000s of free-flying butterflies, and more, in the indoor tropical conservatory. Woolly bear caterpillars become more visible in late fall and this beloved creature is the focus in October. Come see our woolly bears up close! We will reveal the truth about the woolly bear’s stripes and you’ll discover how they survive through the winter. Details
Tuesday – Sunday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Monday, October 13th – Closed
Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory, 2500 Kossuth Rd, Cambridge
General Admission Day Pass (age 13-64): $22.50;
Senior Day Pass (age 65+): $18.50;
Child Day Pass (3 – 12): $13.50; Child (age 2 and under): Free
Harvest Fun at Strom’s Farm
Join in on the fun and experience harvest fun activities. Details
September 19 – October 31, 2025
Strom’s Farm & Bakery, 5089 Wellington County Rd 32, Guelph
$12.95 to $26.95 + taxes
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Heritage Hopper
Join us and travel back in time for an authentic heritage train ride through Woolwich Township and Waterloo Regions’ famous Mennonite farm country on our historic rail line that has been in service since the 1880s. Details
Thursday, Saturday, September 4 – October 30, 2025
Northfield, Farmers Market, and St. Jacobs Station
$19.99 – $39.99
Fall Fun at Benjamin Tree Farm
With over 15,000 square feet of playground space for the kids, 40+ local vendors offering handmade items and seasonal decor, and of course your pick of pumpkins — Benjamin Farm is thrilled to get the chance to create lasting memories for families around the region. Enjoy the Sandhill, playground, balance beams, pumpkin bowling, climbing web, a kiddie corn maze, food trucks, and much more! Details
September 13 – October 31, 2025
Benjamin Tree Farm, 770 Benjamin Rd, Waterloo
$17.50 plus GST
Bingemans Screampark
One horrifying walk…zero ways to prepare for the fear! Details
October 9 – 12, 16 – 19, 23 – 26, 30 – 31, 2025
Bingemans, 425 Bingemans Centre Drive, Kitchener
$26.20 – $119.95
Go Apple Picking
Delicious apples are ready to pick. Check out these farms for some great options
- Orchard Home Farm
- Brantview Apples & Cider
- Wheelbarrow Orchards
- The Apple Orchard
- Chudleigh’s Farm
- Downey’s U-pick Farm
Do call the farms to confirm their hours before starting
Pumpkin Patches
- The Apple Orchard
- Hanes Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch
- Herrles Country Farm Market
- Good Family Farm Pumpkins
- TJ’s Farm Fresh
Corn Mazes in Ontario
Get lost at world-famous corn mazes or at the one nearest to you for a memorable experience with the family or your bestie. Most of these farms also have a whole bunch of other great activities so you can enjoy the entire day picking pumpkins, milking goats, cuddling bunnies and so much more! Details
Enjoy Fall in KW Region
From corn mazes to fabulous fall festivals, there are plenty of ways to celebrate fall in the KW Region. Check out this list of 30 activities you can do in Kitchener – Waterloo Region.
Fall Activities and Getaways in Ontario
When Ontario comes alive with vibrant colours in autumn, cities and towns across the province offer a unique environment, and distinct character for visitors and locals to truly explore.
II. Live Music
Seven Drunken Nights: The Story of the Dubliners
Direct from London’s West End and having sold out venues worldwide, Seven Drunken Nights – The Story of The Dubliners will return to theatres in 2025 for its world tour…and the Kitchener is one of their stops! Leading the ultimate feel-good Irish show, this hugely talented cast of musicians and singers brings this iconic group’s music back to life. Details
Saturday, October 11, 2025 | 7:00 PM
Centre In The Square, 101 Queen Street North, Kitchener
$52.00 – $74.25
Live Music at The Jazz Room
Enjoy live music at The Jazz Room. Details
Duncan Wilson Trio | Friday, October 10, 2025 | 8:00 PM – 10:30 PM
John Neudorf | Saturday, October 11, 2025 | 8:00 PM – 10:30 PM
The Jazz Room, 59 King St N, Waterloo
$15 – $30
Fergus Beatlemania!
Travel through time – From early Ed Sullivan to Let it be, you’ll get all the hits. Experience this live Beatles show through all eras of their career, performed on stage by The Liverpool 4 with the same high energy, impeccable musicianship, showmanship, fun, and humour. Details
Saturday, October 11, 2025 | 7:30 PM
Fergus Grand Theatre, 244 St. Andrew St. W, Fergus
$30
III. Theatre/Performing Arts
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
A truly timeless musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is set to a multitude of musical genres, spanning from country-western and calypso to bubble-gum pop and rock and roll. A fun time for the whole family! Details
October 10 – 11, 2025
The Registry Theatre, 122 Frederick Street, Kitchener
$25 – $35
Misery
October 8 – 26, 2025
St. Jacobs Country Playhouse, 40 Benjamin Rd. E., Waterloo
$36.50 – $59.50
IV. Sports
Sticks & Steins Ball Hockey Tournament
Join us on Saturday, October 11, and Sunday, October 12, as Downtown Kitchener transforms into an outdoor arena, where teams will battle it out for bragging rights, steins, and festival glory. With divisions for competitive players, fun-seekers, and a 50+ crew, there’s a spot for everyone to get in on the action! Ages 19+. Details
October 11 – 12, 2025
Manulife Parking Lot, 54 Water Street South, Downtown Kitchener
Team Registration: $550 + HST per team
Hockey with Hans Ball Hockey Tournament
Grab your stick and gather your team — it’s time for Hockey with Hans! This youth ball hockey tournament brings the excitement of Oktoberfest to the streets of Downtown Kitchener with two full days of high-energy games, community spirit, and festival fun. Details
October 10 – 11, 2025
Manulife Parking Lot, 54 Water Street South, Downtown Kitchener
Team Registration: $550 + HST per team
Go Hiking or Visit Nature Areas
There are plenty of opportunities across Kitchener-Waterloo Region to enjoy nature. Go cycling and explore Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo.
Enjoy a leisurely walk with the family at any of these locations:
-
- 25 Hikes to Enjoy Fall Colours in Ontario
- 25 Nature Attractions & Parks in Kitchener-Waterloo Region
- 25 Fabulous Scenic Lookouts to Visit in Ontario
- 26 Nature Parks and Hiking Spots in the Halton Region
- 25 Waterfalls to Visit Near Toronto
- 50 Nature Attractions & Hotspots in and around GTAV. Exhibitions, Festivals & Other Events
V. Exhibitions, Festivals & Other Events
Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest
September 26 – October 18, 2025
Various locations in Kitchener
Free and ticketed
Monster Month
During the month of October, visitors started coming to Elora from all over Southern Ontario to see the display. Local artists, community groups, businesses and other organizations started adding themed events as popularity grew, leading to the name “Monster Month in Elora.” Details
October 3 – November 2, 2025
Across Elora, ON
Free and ticketed
“The Dark Side of Galt” Evening Walking Tours
Put on your comfy walking shoes and join us as we take an evening stroll through the past, exploring stories of disasters, hauntings, and other unsavoury events that are part of the make up of Galt’s dark history. Details
Fridays, October 3 – 24, 2025 | 6:30 PM & 7:00 PM
McDougall Cottage Historic Site, 89 Grand Avenue South, Cambridge
$31.53
FARMtoberfest
This unique, family-friendly event brings the best of Ontario’s farms to the city streets — and there’s something for everyone to enjoy!! Details
Friday, October 10, 2025 | 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Gaukel Block, Gaukel Street at Charles Street West, Downtown Kitchener
Free
PD Day Camp
Join us at the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery’s PD Day Camp, where creativity knows no bounds and young talents flourish in an atmosphere of inspiration and encouragement. Let the artistic journey begin. Ages 6-13. Details
Friday, October 10, 2025 | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, 101 Queen St N, Kitchener
$15 – $60 + HST
Together We’re Boisterous Comedy Show
Expect a night packed with Stand-Up, Musical Comedy, and Improv – oh, and tons of laughs! 19+. Details
Saturday, October 11, 2025 | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
TWB Co-operative Brewing, 300 Mill St, Unit 1, Kitchener
$11/$22/$33
Spirit Season at Homer Watson House & Gallery
Book a personal psychic reading with a medium, go on an authentic ghost hunt, learn about the ghosts of the property on a tour, attend a lecture or workshop, and much more! Details
Select dates, October 4 – 30, 2025
Homer Watson House & Gallery, 1754 Old Mill Rd, Kitchener
Varies depending on the program
Thanksgiving Weekend at McDougall Cottage
This Thanksgiving weekend, make McDougall Cottage one of your stops along the way. Step inside our cozy stone cottage to explore Currents of Change: Inspiring Action Along the Grand River, an engaging exhibit that invites reflection and connection with the landscape we share. We’ll also have seasonal crafts available, perfect for visitors of all ages to enjoy.
And on both Saturday and Sunday afternoon, the FRIENDS of Waterloo Region Museums will be serving up that ever-popular fall favourite – apple cider – hot or cold, your choice! Cider is available by donation, with all proceeds supporting the important work of the FRIENDS.
October 11 – 13, 2025 | 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
McDougall Cottage Historic Site, 89 Grand Ave S, Cambridge
By donation
Ghost Walks at Castle Kilbride
Take a walk on Castle Kilbride’s eerie side. The tour features frescoes from an artist who should have been dead, playful kids throughout, including Kilbride’s resident spirit and haunted antiques that have found their way back to the Castle. Details
October 10 – 11, 2025
Castle Kilbride, 60 Snyder’s Road West, Baden
$17.00 + tax
PD Day Camp: Museum Detectives
Experience the thrill of investigative science and dive into a thrilling hands-on mystery where young detectives work together to solve a daring museum heist. As they follow the evidence and crack secret codes, detectives will sharpen their observation, problem-solving, and teamwork skills, all while unraveling the mystery behind the missing artifact in this immersive forensic science adventure. Details
Friday, October 10, 2025 | 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
10 Huron Rd, Kitchener
$60 per day per child
Schneider Haus October PD Day Camp – Feathered Friends
Bird is the Word for this PD Day! Come and learn about feathered friends in our own backyard with engaging bird-themed crafts and activities. Programming provides a mix of free and structured play, allowing children to explore, create, build, dig, discover, and make new friends. Campers must bring a lunch and snacks. Snacks will not be provided. Please ensure your child is dressed for the unpredictable Fall weather!! Details
Friday, October 10, 2025 | 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Schneider Haus NHS, 466 Queen Street South, Kitchener
$60 plus tax and fees
Bloody Berlin Walking Tour
Join Schneider Haus staff for an evening walk through the back alleys and side streets of downtown Kitchener as we talk about some of the scary, sexy, or just plain weird characters that have called our town home. Murders, executions, grave robbing, shootouts, villainous doctors, and even pandemics of the past. Come learn a little more about Bloody Berlin….if you dare!! Details
Saturday, October 11, 2025 | 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Schneider Haus NHS, 466 Queen Street South, Kitchener
$26.95 plus tax and fees
Kids in the Kitchen: Healthy Cooking with Chef Susan
Join Chef Susan for a fun, hands-on class where young chefs learn to make tasty and healthy recipes using fresh ingredients! They’ll build essential kitchen skills, explore nutrition, and find delicious ways to get the nutrients they need. Ages 8 – 11. Details
Saturday, October 11, 2025 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
300 King St E, Kitchener
$45/per person
Grillefest
Kitchener council celebrates Oktoberfest downtown with council’s Grillefest. Councillors and city staff will serve you a traditional sausage on a bun, with all proceeds going to support the Food Bank of Waterloo Region! Details
Friday, October 10, 2025 | 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Carl Zehr Square, Kitchener City Hall
Minimum donation of $5, with all proceeds going to support the Food Bank of Waterloo Region.
Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest
Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest is Canada’s Greatest Bavarian Festival celebrating over 50 years of great local tradition. Details
September 26 – October 18, 2025
Various locations in Kitchener
Free and ticketed
All Ages Oktoberfest
Prost! Join us at Schneider Haus this Thanksgiving weekend to participate in our all-ages Oktoberfest celebrations! Activate your taste buds with our root beer tasting flight or try a soft pretzel fresh from the oven! We will have backyard games and polka going all afternoon long to keep the good times rolling! And what would Oktoberfest be without a little chicken dance? Join us at 2 p.m. each day in our amphitheater space to learn the chicken dance and see if you can keep up with the best of them!! Details
October 11 – 13, 2025 | 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
466 Queen Street South
Regular Admission
Thanksgiving Dinner Train
Step aboard our heritage train for a festive Thanksgiving dining experience as we journey through the picturesque countryside between St. Jacobs and Elmira. Settle into the elegant Heritage Lounge Car, where vintage charm meets cozy comfort. Details
Monday, October 13, 2025 | 12:00 PM
330 Farmers Market Road, St. Jacobs
Lounge Car Single Seat $125
Thanksgiving Dinner Dine /Take-Out Options
- Borealis Grille on October 12 – 13
- Charcoal Steakhouse on October 11 – 13
- Cambridge Mill on October 11 – 12
- Swiss Chalet Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo – until October 13
- All Open Table Listings – Kitchener
- All Open Table Listings – Waterloo
- All Open Table Listings – Cambridge
Cambridge Farmers’ Market
The Cambridge Farmers’ Market is our community food hub. It is where residents gather, talk about food and community happenings. Farmers Markets are a place of: Excitement and anticipation around food Centres of commerce and socializing. Details
Saturdays, Year-round | 7:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Cambridge Farmers’ Market, 40 Dickson St, Cambridge
Free
Kitchener Farmer’s Market
Shop for groceries or weekend meals, including meat, produce, dairy, and specialty items from the Farmer’s Market. Details
Saturdays | 7:00 AM – 2:00 PM
300 King St E, Kitchener
Free
Ontario Culture Days
Culture Days is a national celebration of arts and culture. At the end of each September, millions of people attend thousands of participatory arts and culture events across the country. Culture Days programs invite the public to get hands-on and behind-the-scenes to highlight the importance of arts and culture in our communities. Details
September 19 – October 12, 2025
Across Ontario
Free
Fear Farm
Visit Fear Farm during the 2025 season and enjoy the world famous hayride and 7 legendary outdoor haunts to visit. Come enjoy the live horses on the hayride, the action, the actors, the atmosphere. This is the fall event not to miss. Details
select dates, September 27 – October 31, 2025
936685 Blenheim Rd, Bright
$59.99 & up
We do try to make the listings as accurate as possible, but there may be typographical/oversight errors or events may be cancelled or postponed without any notice. Verify all details from concerned event Websites/officials.